All-Tournament team announced from the US Youth Soccer ODP Boys 1996 Winter Interregional

FRISCO, Texas (February 7, 2012) – US Youth Soccer today announced the All-Tournament Team from the recently completed US Youth Soccer Olympic Development Program (US Youth Soccer ODP) Boys 1996 Winter Interregional held at IMG Academies in Bradenton, Fla., Jan. 27-29, 2012. The 14-man roster for the All-Tournament Team was selected for their outstanding performance during the annual interregional event.

The annual Interregional events bring together the four US Youth Soccer ODP Boys Regional Teams for competition and player development and identification. The 1996 event was held at IMG Academies, the world's largest and most advanced multi-sport and education complex and home to the U.S. Soccer Under-17 Residency Academy. Newly appointed U.S. Under-17 head coach Richie Williams and his staff were in attendance to scout the four Regional Teams for potential inclusion in the U.S. Under-17 player pool.

Thirteen players who competed in last year's 1996 Interregional were invited to U.S. National Team camps since that time, and several were selected to the U.S. Soccer Residency Academy and have become leaders for the U-17 team. The most notable '96 to have success with the National Team is Herber Mejia-Flores of Region I, an All-Tournament selection at last year's ODP Fall Interregional. Mejia-Flores led the U.S. team to the championship at the Nike International Friendlies two months ago, being named Man of the Match and adding an assist in a 3-1 win versus Brazil. Mejia-Flores also scored the game winning goal in the 88th minute after already being named Man of the Match versus Turkey and added an assist in a draw with France. In total, eight players from last year's US Youth Soccer ODP 1996 Interregional competed for the U.S. in the Nike Friendlies, with Wesley Wade (Region I), DeAndre Robinson (Region III) and current Region IV player Rubio Rubin scoring goals.

When the U.S. Under-17's traveled to Turkey last month for the Aegean Cup, nine players who were a part of last year's '96 Interregional were on the roster, and of them Conor Donovan (Region III), Rubin, Robinson and Wade accounted for all five of the U.S.'s goals in the tournament.